Features

Search

This window is basically your home. File Find has many filter options, with them you can find and filter for almost everything. For a detailed overview, have a look at the How to section below. Right-clicking the find button is going to show more options.

You can start multiple searches at once. See their status by clicking the File Find icon in the menu-bar and going to Searches: >

You can export your set filters as a .FFFilter file, load them again, share them or even set them as a default in the settings.

Find

The search results window in File Find provides a simple list of all found files. Double clicking a path will reveal the file or folder in Finder or File Explorer. There are even more if you go to Tools in the menu bar. You can also find duplicated files. You can save this search as a .FFSearch file by going to File > Save Search. To compare the opened search to an other saved search, click the compare icon on the top right.

Compare

With this feature you can easily compare two searches, one stored and the other opened. To get there, open a search with either loading it from a .FFSearch file or by setting filter options and pressing "Find". Then in the results window either press the compare icon or go to Tools > Compare to other Search... This has many use-cases e.g. seeing which files an application installled or finding moved files.

Duplicated

This feature allows you to easily find duplicated files in every search. Possible criterias are: File name, File size and File content. The duplicated files are sorted in groups. In the results window either press the duplicated icon on the top right or go to Tools > Find duplicated files....

How to

Basic-Tab

Name: Input needs to match the name of a file exactly, ignoring case. Also supports unix shell-style wildcards, which are not the same as regular expressions (also ignoring case).
Name contains: The name of a file must contain input, ignoring case.
File Type: Select groups of files types that should be included in search results.
Directory: The directory tree to search in. Excluding subdirectory content is currently not possibly

Properties-Tab

File contains: Allows you to search in files. Input must be in the file content. This option can take really long. Your input is case-sensitive.
Date created and modified: Specify a date range for the date the file has been created / modified, leave at default to ignore.
File size: Input specifies file size in a range from min to max. Select the unit (Byte, Megabyte, Gigabyte...) on the right. Select "No Limit" to only set a minimum or maximum value.

Advanced-Tab

Search in system files: Toggle to include files in the system and library folders.
File extension: Input needs to match the file extension (file type) without the ".", ignoring case.
Only search for folders or files: Toggle to only include folders or files in the search results.

Sorting-Tab

None (fastest)
File size
File name
Date modified
Date created
Path
Reverse Sort: Reverse the sorted search results.

Frequently Asked Question

Q: What is File Find and how does it work?

A: File Find is an open-source Utility for macOS, Windows and Linux, that makes it easy to find files. To search fill in the filters you need and leave the filters you don't need empty.
Q: Why does File Find sometimes freeze?

A: It is possible that for example reloading files or building the UI at the end of a search can cause File Find to freeze. Just wait a few seconds!
Q: How to clean the cache?

A: File Find stores the cache under /Users/$USERNAME/Library/Application Support/File-Find/Cached Searches. You can clean the cache with ⌘ + T or Tools > Clear Cache. In the About section you can set when the cache gets cleaned automatically.
Q: Why does File Find ask for permission for Contacts, Calenders, Photos, etc...?

A: File Find scans the entire specified directory, even if files are excluded they are scanned first and then sorted out. Your photos, calendar data, contacts etc. are stored in a library folder, which means that File Find scans them. File Find does not connect to the internet at all, everything stays on your machine. You could also press "Do not allow", the associated files will not appear in your search results.
Q: Why does File Find ask for permission for Downloads, Desktop, Documents, etc...?

A: On macOS if an app scans a directory this popup will automatically appear. If you press "Don't allow", File Find will still be able to scan those files, but you are not going to be able to save searches in those directories.
Q: Does File Find connect to the Internet?

A: No.